This chapter may be cited as the Disaster Service Volunteer Leave Act. (70 Del. Laws, c. 21, § 1.)
As used in this chapter, unless the context indicates a different intent:
(1) "Certified disaster service volunteer" or "volunteer" means any person who has completed the necessary training for and been certified as a disaster service specialist by the American Red Cross.
(2) "Disaster" means any disaster designated at Level III or higher in the American National Red Cross Regulations and Procedures, including both national and state disasters.
(3) "State agency" or "agency" means any state office, officer, official, department, board, commission, institution, bureau, agency, division or unit of the State, including those within the legislative and judicial branches of state government. (70 Del. Laws, c. 21, § 1.)
§ 6003. Disaster service volunteer leave.
(a) An employee of a state agency who is a certified disaster service volunteer may be granted leave from work with pay, in accordance with subsection (b) below, for up to an aggregate of 15 work days, consecutively or nonconsecutively, in any 12-month period to participate in specialized disaster relief services for the American Red Cross in connection with any disaster, upon the request of the American Red Cross for such employee's services and upon the approval of such employee's employing agency.
(b) An employee of a state agency granted leave pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be compensated by the employee's employing agency at the employee's regular rate of pay for those regular work hours during which the employee is absent from work, but shall not receive overtime pay, shift differential pay, hazardous duty pay or any other form of pay or compensation in addition to the employee's regular pay. An employee of a state agency who is granted leave pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall not lose any seniority or any already accumulated vacation time, sick time or earned overtime due to such leave.
(c) The State shall not be liable for workers' compensation claims arising from accident or injury while the state employee is on assignment as a certified disaster service volunteer for the American Red Cross. Duties performed while on disaster leave shall not be considered to be a work assignment by a state agency. In determining whether to grant leave to an employee, the employee's employing agency may consider the needs of the American Red Cross for expertise in a particular certified area. The employee's activities and job functions while on leave, however, shall not be directed by the State but shall be determined and controlled solely by the American Red Cross.
(d) An employee who is on leave pursuant to this section shall not be deemed to be an employee of the State for purposes of the Delaware Tort Claims Act. (70 Del. Laws, c. 21, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
NOTICE: The Delaware Code appearing on this site was prepared by the Division of Research of Legislative Council of the General Assembly with the assistance of the Government Information Center, under the supervision of the Delaware Code Revisors and the editorial staff of LexisNexis, includes all acts up to and including 76 Del. Laws, c. 214, effective May 1, 2008.
DISCLAIMER: Please Note: With respect to the Delaware Code documents available from this site or server, neither the State of Delaware nor any of its employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately-owned rights. This information is provided for informational purposes only. Please seek legal counsel for help on interpretation of individual statutes.